Read the transcript from the Thursday show

REVEREND AL SHARPTON, MSNBC ANCHOR: Good evening, Ed. And thanks to you for tuning in.

Tonight`s lead, elections matter. People can make a change for the better. We saw new proof of that today here in New York, where Mayor Bill de Blasio took a major step towards fulfilling a campaign promise, ending the discriminatory practice of stop and frisk. That`s the police program of stopping and questioning New Yorkers, often without evidence of wrongdoing, and on election nightmare-elect de Blasio promised a change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, NEW YORK CITY: We must work public safety is a prerequisite for the striving neighborhood that create opportunity in the city and so is respect for civil liberties. We`re all hungry for an approach that acknowledges we are stronger and safer as a city when police and residents work hand in hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHARPTON: We are stronger when police and residents work together, and that`s not what happened under stop and frisk. The practice spiked over the last decade, hitting a crisis level in 2011 where nearly 700,000 people were stopped. Eighty-six percent of those stopped were Black and Latino, and 88 percent of those stopped didn`t result in an arrest or a summons, 88 percent. These were innocent people treated like criminals because of the color of their skin. A judge called it, quote, "a policy of indirect racial profiling."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the time I was 15 to 18, I would say I was stopped, questioned and frisked at least 60 to 70 times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The impact on the wall is enough to keep me here. So you don`t even have to hold me. I have one partner holding my arm here, the other holding my arm behind my back searching my pockets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sergeant is holding like, this I`m going to break your arm. I`m going to break your arm and punch you in the face. You`re going to punch me in the face? Yes. You rushed me for what? For being a mutt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHARPTON: Remember, 88 percent were innocent. This was a system that could not be tolerated, and it wasn`t. In 2012 I helped leaders march thousands of people protesting stop and frisk. Ending the policy became a key part of Bill de Blasio`s campaign for mayor. One ad featured his son, Dante, talking about ending the practice. It became a viral hit.

Last summer a judge ruled that stop and frisk was unconstitutional, saying, quote," each stop is a demeaning and humiliating experience. The city`s highest officials have turned a blind eye to the evidence that officers are conducting stops in a racially discriminatory manner."

But the former New York mayor defended the practice and appealed the judge`s ruling. Today that ends. Mayor de Blasio announced the city would drop its appeal and will work to implement reforms.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DE BLASIO: We`re here today to turn the page on one of the most divisive problems in our city. We believe in ending the overuse of stop and frisk that has unfairly targeted young African-American and Latino men.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHARPTON: We believe in that too. Elections matter. People coming together for change matters. And when you fight for what you believe in, you can make change happen.

Joining me now is New York city mayor, Bill de Blasio.

Mr. Mayor, welcome back to the show.

DE BLASIO: Thank you so much, Rev.

SHARPTON: Your announcement today doesn`t immediately end stop and frisk. What does it do?

DE BLASIO: Well, it says that with the judge`s approval, the federal judge`s approval, we are going to end the city`s appeal. We`re going to accept the judge`s ruling. Now, we came to a settlement simultaneously with the civil rights and civil liberties organizations, again, pending the judge`s approval. And we`re very hopeful wall street we`ll get that.

It means we`re going the end the whole legal battle because we`ve agreed to a settlement with the people who raised the case to begin with on behalf of young men of color in this city, we`re going to move forward. We`re accepting the reforms the federal judge put forward. We`re embracing those reforms. And we believe it`s going to make us safer in the final analysis because police and community will have a chance to actually work together as opposed to being divided by an unfair policy.

SHARPTON: Because people want to be safe as well as not be discriminated against. You talk about the reforms. The agreement calls for federal monitor to develop reforms for police as well as making it easier for citizens and police to work together. What kind of reforms would you like to see?

DE BLASIO: Rev., the whole concept here is to return to community policing, to return to a model of policing that is very much connected to communities where we`re listening to community residents about what they need. We`re learning from them where the actual bad guys are, not the 88 percent innocent that you pointed out were getting stopped consistently. I think the whole notion here is to show the reform is real there is going to be measures to work with community leaders differently, to make sure if there are problem points in any particular precinct, they can get acted on to raise concerns there is going to be a federal monitor for the next three years. We`re also going to have an independent police inspector general. That`s another reform that the movement you and I were part of achieved. And thank you again for leading that march in June of 2012 that made such a huge difference. That father`s day march was one of the turning points.

And we are realizing that vision today by saying we`re not going to go to court to fight the advocates and the activists. We`re going to join with them and make a solution together.

SHARPTON: Your election was seen as an inspiration to progressives across the country.

"The New York Times" wrote, quote "Mr. De Blasio`s candidacy excited liberals with the way his relentless critique of economic inequality in New York seemed to resonate with voters. He is fast becoming a national liberal leader whose views will be difficult to ignore."

Do you think other cities will also change their police departments based on what is happening in New York and look at reform?

DE BLASIO: Look, I hope that we set a good example. This is a historic moment for this city. You know, today at the press conference, the Brownsville community center, the plaintiff attorneys went over the decades of legal battles over these issues.

SHARPTON: Right.

DE BLASIO: So it`s a historic moment that we`re finally ending that we had the police commissioner there. We have the chief lawyer for the city there, all in unity with the people bringing this case that we could resolve this together.

I hope that assets positive example wherever else in the country these tensions exist that there is a better way. And by the way, a way that will make us safer. A lot of people in the Brownsville community in Brooklyn, a community that has suffered a lot because of crime.

SHARPTON: I`m from Brownsville, as you know.

DE BLASIO: You know. They want safety. They want respect. The two should go together. Public safety and civil liberties should march hand in hand. And if this historic agreement helps to encourage others, well, God bless. That`s an even better day then.

SHARPTON: Let me ask you another question that you came to mind. I was listening to the president`s state of the union address, and he talked about pre-k, a pre-k plan. And the president talked about it. A big part of your campaign was about preschool and about three New York papers have called on you to make a deal with the governor about pre-k and funding and all. And you`ve been saying we have to cover it will. You make a deal with the governor?

DE BLASIO: I said clearly, you know, I`m a public school parent myself. My son, Dante, you saw a moment ago, he is a product of New York City public schools, still in public school now. I`m not going to give up o on our public school kids. We need five years of consistent funding, substantial funding, so we can have full-day preschool and after school programs guaranteed to every middle school. That`s our plan.

Someone wants to show us a way to do that that is different from my plan, of course, I`ll listen. But let me tell you what I think will work, a tax on the wealthiest New Yorkers. That is what we talk about for over a year. Tax those who make a half million or more, it will give us the money we need for the next five years to guarantee every pre-k student that they get a seat. Guarantee those after school programs.

It`s New York city`s own money. We`re only asking Albany to give us a right to tan into our own resource. But no plan has been put forward by the governor or anyone else that comes near the dollar figure or the reliability we need to actually create this.

SHARPTON: Let me ask you about your first month in office. You worked in city government for a long time. But the press has gone after a few things already, eating pizza with a fork, not plowing some areas well enough after the snowstorm. Even if you are running late to a meeting, what are you learning on the job that is different as being mayor?

DE BLASIO: You know, when the players go from the minor leagues up to the major leagues, they say welcome the show. So Rev., I think it`s that reality. Its New York City press corps. You know, the slightest little slip or the slightest little mistake and you`ll hear about it.

I think in the end we have made at will of progress. We`re moving legislation to guarantee paid sick leave to half a million more people who don`t get it right away. We`re speeding the process to make sure people get it. We`ve obviously had this historic moment settling and finding a pathway to settle and end the appeal on the stop and frisk case.

We are moving the pre-k and after school plan. These are all the things people sent us here to do. So, if the media is concerned about my pizza habits or anything else, that`s just part of the reality.

SHARPTON: And you know something else they brought up, and I`m going to be transparent. They seem to question the role your wife is going the play, who has always been your partner. And full disclosure, my former communications director is working for your wife starting Monday as chief of staff.

DE BLASIO: Starting Monday.

SHARPTON: I mean, what do you say about those that are uncomfortable about your wife Charlayne playing a role, something that some of us always felt she always did, but now that you are in city hall, what do you say to those that are questioning that?

DE BLASIO: Rev., look, Charlayne has been my partner now in everything I do for 22 years. You know, we`ve been married for 19 years. We have two children, teenagers. This is everything we`ve done, we`ve done together. We met in city hall during Mayor Dinkins` administration. This is our life. And she is the first person I turn to for advice and guidance in everything I do. So I`m proud of the role she plays. I think the people of the city love her as their first lady. And I`m glad she has a fantastic chief of staff coming in. You trained Rachel (INAUDIBLE) so well.

People, I think, just need to recognized it, we have said throughout, she is my partner, she the most important voice in my life. We`re just going to continue in that vein. And I think most people in New York city get that and appreciate that. And we`re going to find it`s very productive at getting things for the city.

SHARPTON: I have to ask you about one more woman sine we are talking about ladies in your life. This will not as close, but you ran a campaign for Senate in 2000 as Hillary Clinton.

DE BLASIO: Yes.

SHARPTON: Would you like to see her run for president, and do you think she will?

DE BLASIO: I`m going to answer a little different. I know she would be a great president. I know that. When I served on her campaign in 2000, she was first lady, and I could see just in that reality, all that she was doing to shape positive outcomes for the country. Obviously, I thought she raised incredibly important issues when she ran for president in `08. She`ll make her own decision. I can only affirm to you one thing, having spent a year of my life shoulder to shoulder with her. She would be a fantastic president.

SHARPTON: Well, let me say again where we started, I think today was a breakthrough. We`re not all the way where we want to be yet, but it`s a step there. And you have -- you said that you were going to deal with this issue, and you did. And I beat up on a lot of politicians on this show nationally every night when they don`t keep their word, and you have started in this respect to go forward. And you know that we`ll be watching.

DE BLASIO: I know you will. And in the best sense of accountability, Rev. And I appreciate it. And thank you again for helping make this day possible by helping to lead the movement that finally got the elected officials to do what they should do.

SHARPTON: Thank you. We`ll be right back.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, thank you so much for being here tonight.

DE BLASIO: Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SHARPTON: Earlier today, MSNBC president Phil Griffin received a phone call and letter from Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee. The letter regarded an inappropriate tweet that was sent last night via the MSNBC twitter account.

Phil Griffin has issued the following statement. Quote "the tweet last night was outrageous and unacceptable. We immediately acknowledged that it was offensive and wrong, apologized, and deleted it. We have dismissed the person responsible for the tweet. I personally apologized to Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended. At MSNBC, we believe in passionate, strong debate about the issue, and we invite voices from all sides to participate. That will never change."

Let me say this. You know, when I first started the show here and met Phil Griffin and talked around this station, one thing that was always clear to me is that you can take strong positions, but you cannot be against people and you can`t be personal. And I learned that the hard way. One of the people that taught me that died eight years ago today, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many years ago she embraced me and work I was doing in national action network because of my close working with her son Martin III. She told me, Al, you cannot become what you`re fighting. Name-calling is not just justified because of emotion. Just because you disagree with people does not mean you don`t respect them and that the words that come out of your mouth or that you write have to represent the highest order.

So when Mr. Phil griffin and others said that`s how they operate around here, it only confirmed a decade of training by people like Loretta Scott King. Every night I take people on here, but I do not attack them personally.

I learned after saying a lot of things out of emotion that you only get in the way of not only people that want to hear what is right, you get in the way of your own sole and your own belief that we really need to make people better, not bitter. We do not have to be disagreeable in order to disagree.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SHARPTON: Two weeks ago, one of governor Christie`s biggest defenders was asked if he believed the governor knew about the George Washington bridge lane closings. Here is what he said then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have no doubt that he had no involvement?

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: I`m absolutely positive. I think Chris Christie is one of the most honest, straight guys you`re going to meet. Also, I think had he known about it, he never would have acted this way. Had he known he had some involvement in this, he never would have treated it lightly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about that e-mail from Bridget Anne Kelly? I mean, isn`t that, you know, time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee, I mean, Mayor Giuliani, doesn`t that infer that there are -- there was this conversation before about stuff like that?

GIULIANI: With the governor? No, it doesn`t. It`s 50-50. I mean, it leaves you with no possible way of knowing. Did she discuss it with him or didn`t she discuss it with him?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHARPTON: 50-50 sounds different from absolutely sure. To be clear, the mayor also defended Christie today, saying he isn`t getting a fair shake, and that he is being unfairly treated, but it`s raising all kinds of questions, new questions today.

Joining me now Jonathan Capehart and Steve Kornacki. Thank you both for being here.

JONATHAN CAPEHART, OPINION WRITER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Thanks, Rev.

SHARPTON: I want to hear from both of you, starting with Steve. How significant is this from Rudy today?

STEVE KORNACKI, MSNBC HOST, UP WITH STEVE KORNACKI: I think it`s fairly significant, because Rudy Giuliani just in general is one of Chris Christie`s, you know, closest political allies. You talk about regionally about what they both represent within the Republican party. You look at how eager he was to go to the front of the line to defend him as you showed a couple of weeks ago.

SHARPTON: Right.

KORNACKI: And I think it reflects a couple of weeks of thinking, a couple weeks of development. It`s prevalent about whether you`re talking about Republicans, Democrats, the media, just anybody watching this story, there is a very widespread sense right now that this thing keeps expanding. It keeps opening up. It keeps going into unexpected directions. And nobody quite knows the direction of it.

So what I`m pick up listen to in listening to Mayor Giuliani is somebody who recognizes that now and maybe doesn`t want to be pin down quite so adamantly defending Chris Christie when this thing is a lot less predictable than he thought it was when he was responding a few weeks ago.

SHARPTON: Jonathan, he s he protecting, he being Rudy Giuliani, is he protecting himself because this thing is going a little wider and more expansive than he thought or does Rudy Giuliani know something from the camp of Mr. Christie and figures he better pull back?

CAPEHART: I`m to take a little bit of different tact here. I think the mayor probably thought he was defending Governor Christie by saying 50-50 because he said there is a 50-chance he didn`t know and a 50 percent chance he did.

The problem that he has, though, in that answer is that he is now presented some daylight between himself and the governor between what he said, what Rudy Giuliani said a couple weeks ago and his categorical defense of the governor and what he said now.

Steve absolutely right that, you know, a lot has happened since Rudy Giuliani gave that categorical defense of governor Christie. And if yesterday`s "New York Times" story about, you know, the binder full of mayors with mini Ohio and mini Florida and today`s story about the e-mails showing pressure ion Mayor Zimmer of Hoboken to do what the governor wanted her to do on that development.

SHARPTON: Let me go to that story today in "The New York Times," Steve. You know, I want to ask you about it. It`s getting a lot of attention about the Hoboken investigation. The story you broke, by the way. But the Times obtained an e-mail containing the agenda for a May 9th meeting between Hoboken Mayor Zimmer and the Christie officials. "The Times" reports the first topic of discussion on the agenda was a review of concepts for flood control measures at Rockefeller profit. Now tell me about the importance of this. You broke this story.

KORNACKI: Right. So I mean this is a very suggestive e-mail. And there is a couple others, and we`ve been looking through them as well. But there is a sort of suggestive tone of this e-mail where there is a meeting that is attempting the law firm representing the Rockefeller redevelopment group is trying to set up meeting with DEP, the department of environmental protection down in Trenton. And what this e-mail suggests, what this agenda suggest is what the mayor has been alleging, this merging of her interest getting help for her city on flood mitigation on Sandy relief, on preparing the city for future flood emergencies. So that`s one of the things on the agenda, it is global flooding issues.

Another thing that pops up on the agenda is flooding issues at the Rockefeller property. It`s a little curious, because nobody quite at the Rockefeller group has formally presented the proposal hey, this is exactly where we want to build in your town. It`s an abstract thing. They own the land. They want to develop it.

So, to have the law firm that is representing the Rockefeller group trying to set up a meeting, you know, trying to get the administration in Hoboken down to Trenton to have a meeting to talk what is on their agenda in terms of overall flooding issues with something very specific.

This is showing now, this is bringing in the pressure -- what we`ve already seen with pressure being applied by law, from David Samson`s law firm. Pressure is being applied to the mayor`s administration in Hoboken to get this project moving. Now, we see the attempt by that law firm to get the administration involved, to get Chris Christie`s department of environmental protection, to get Trenton involved in a way that raises both -- seams to raise both of the issues in this agenda.

SHARPTON: Now Jonathan, here is a new poll on the 2016 Republican primary. Congressman Paul Ryan leads the field 20 percent, former governor Jeb Bush at 18 percent, and governor Christie is in third, in third at 13 percent. Not less than where he started.

CAPEHART: Right.

SHARPTON: He is followed by Ted Cruz at 12 percent. How worrisome is this for Christie supporters dreaming of a presidential run, Jonathan?

CAPEHART: Well, in the short run, should it be very worrisome, because the man who just rocketed to reelection by one of the largest margins in New Jersey history and who was sitting at the top of the heat just months ago is now in the toilet. His poll numbers are in the toilet. The loss of trust is real among Republicans, Democrats, independents. Remember, he was re-elected with the help of not just Republicans, but a significant number of Democrats who crossed party lines to reelect him.

The good part of this is this is all happening two years before 2016 happens. So as we`ve seen, the story keeps changing. And he could either come back from this or more news could come out that could just completely bury him.

SHARPTON: Well, one thing for sure we are sure going to be watching it. We`re going to stay on top of it. Long way to go. And he better be careful of Rudy.

Steve Kornacki and Jonathan Capehart, thank you for your time tonight.

CAPEHART: Thanks, Rev.

And be sure to watch "Up with Steve Kornacki" weekends at 8:00 a.m. eastern time right here on MSNBC.

Still ahead, why someone percenters are fighting about the president`s fight against inequality.

But first, what is next for the lawmaker who threatened to break a reporter in half? That`s next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SHARPTON: It`s the political threat everybody is talking about. New York Congressman Michael Grimm threatening to throw a reporter off a balcony at the capitol following the State of the Union. It happened after the reporter dared to ask a question Grimm didn`t like. The congressman did apologize, and the reporter accepted. But questions remain. Could Congressman Grimm face legal action? And how could this affect his re-election campaign.

Joining me now is MSNBC`s Krystal Ball. Krystal, thank you for being here.

KRYSTAL BALL, MSNBC CO-HOST "THE CYCLE": Thanks for having me.

SHARPTON: Congressman Grimm`s chief of staff told roll call, quote, "I think for the most part all parties involved have put it behind them. The story seems to be over," end of quote. Now that may be true. It might all be over. But there are other things to consider, Krystal, according to Roll Call, the Congressional code of conduct says members must behave, quote, "At all times in a manner that shall reflect the credibility of the House. The Radio Television Correspondents Association said, they`re going to, quote, "look into the matter." But though the House sergeant at arms and capitol police which were in charge of Capitol Hill security had no comment.

Krystal, do you think this incident is over for Congressman Grimm?

BALL: I definitely don`t think it`s over, if for nothing else, even if, you know, his colleagues in the House decide to let it go, even if there are no criminal charges that are appropriate or that are filed, this is definitely going to be an issue in his reelection campaign. He is running. He represents a district that the president won in 2012. This is a moderate district. It`s a swing district. And it`s one that Democrats have long had their eye on ever since they won the seat. So, I think his challenger is absolutely in his rights to play this footage to remind voters of who this guy is and the way that he behaved. And let`s not forget, he apologized eventually. But his initial statement that he released was a double down and was a justification in how he had been wronged and disrespected and that the reporter deserved it.

SHARPTON: Yes. It took a while. But let me follow up that Congressional race, his reelection. Congressman Grimm is up for re-election this fall.

BALL: Right.

SHARPTON: And former Staten Island Republican Party chairwoman told Politico it`s going to have an impact on the race. This is the Republican chairwoman, former. He has been very angry and very aggressive. It`s the State of the Union. It`s a solemn event. People are going to ask what is going on here. Now, he won an upset victory against a democratic incumbent in 2010. It`s a very tight district. Could that therefore tip it? Could it have political implications?

BALL: I absolutely think it could have political implications. And especially because I think people don`t feel like this is an isolated incident with him. I think they feel it reveals more of his true character there have been questions about his behavior in the past. And let`s not also forget that the reason that he got so upset is because there is a question of campaign finance violations. There is a question of corruption. And that`s going to continue to unfold. This incident just serves to highlight the fact that he is being investigated in that regard, and that there may be some issues there as well.

SHARPTON: You know, Jon Stewart last night had a few things to say about the congressman. Listen.

BALL: Oh, he did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, STAND-UP COMEDIAN: To be fair, I will throw you off this (bleep) balcony is a relatively standard and traditional Staten Island goodbye. It is in some respects considered, if I may, I`ve been there quite frequently, it is considered their ciao.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHARPTON: Krystal Ball, I`ll leave it at that. Thank you for your time tonight. And be sure to catch Krystal on "THE CYCLE" weekdays at 3:00 p.m. Eastern right here on MSNBC.

Coming up, the corporate jet set is freaking out about the president`s fight against inequality. What is the one percent so afraid of?

Plus, Attorney General Holder has been working to make the criminal justice system more fair, and now Congress is listening. Big news tonight.

SHARPTON: The one percent is freaking out. Forget heading for the exits, they`re heading for the yachts. Earlier this week, Tom Perkins, a businessman worth $8 billion wrote a letter to "The Wall Street Journal" comparing the treatment of the rich to the holocaust, calling, quote, "Attention to parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to progressive war on the American one percent." He later apologized for his choice of words, but he also said this --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM PERKINS, ENTREPRENEUR: The one percent are not causing the inequality. They are the job creators. Let the rich do what the rich do, which is get richer, but along the way they bring everybody else with them.

SHARPTON: Because nothing says a taste of reality like underwater airplanes. Hmm. If only cooler heads would prevail, talk some sense to the one percenters who are freaking out like "The Wall Street Journal." Today they called Perkins` Nazi comparison unfortunate, but they also said maybe the critics are afraid that Mr. Perkins is on to something, and that the president believes millionaires and billionaires deserve to be punished. What are they talking about?

The president isn`t trying to punish anyone, but he is trying to make this an economy that works for everyone. That is why once again today he was out pushing for measures like an increase in the minimum wage. This isn`t about punishing those making a million dollars a year. It`s about fighting for those who don`t even make $10 an hour.

Joining me now is former Congressman Barney Frank. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your time tonight.

FMR. REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Glad to be here.

SHARPTON: Do you -- I mean, do these billionaires really think that a higher minimum wage is a war on the rich, Mr. Chairman?

FRANK: Well, I can`t put words in their mouth. If I could, they`d be saying different once. I can say this. Let me respond directly to Mr. Perkins. This notion that these very high annual incomes affect job creation is just wrong. There is no argument. You could reduce the highest levels of compensation and in fact have a better economy. We`ve tried that. Bill Clinton in `93 asked that we raise the marginal rate on the top incomes from 36 to 40 percent. We did. We heard arguments from people like Mr. Perkins that it would be disastrous.

Subsequently, the economy performed very well. President Obama, Bush dropped it down again. President Obama got it back up again. And once again the economy has been going better than expected. And let me talk about the sector that I know best because of my chairmanship, the financial sector. The notion that these multimillion-dollar salaries that are being paid to high level financial executives are job creating is nonsense.

Unfortunately, the impact, much of what they did was in the late -- in the few years ago was job destruction. And the notion again that you have to pay these people this amount of money to get them to do it is simply wrong. In fact, in the financial situation, there is clearly what the economies call rent. That is an amount of income they are able to get from the economy because of the arrangements that they have perpetuated unrelated to the economic good that they do.

SHARPTON: Now, you know, today the president, Congressman Frank, he announced more executive actions to get this economy up and running. The right wing just went crazy. But listen to what the president is saying. The fact is that the right wing has gone crazy. But he has gone further and further into this in terms of saying that he is going to use executive action. The House GOP is pushing a resolution to bring legal action against the president`s executive actions.

It`s called stop, the stop the overreaching presidency resolution, and it has 74 Republican co-sponsors. President Obama signed fewer executive orders as you know over the first term than the last three Republican presidents. Reagan signed 213. George H.W. Bush signed 166. George W. Bush signed 173. President Obama has only signed 147. I mean, do you think the right should classify Reagan or Bush Sr. or Jr. as dictators, Mr. Chairman?

FRANK: No, we`re seeing obvious hypocrisy. The only quarrel I would have of what you said is that the right wing went crazy. That`s like saying the arctic became cold. That`s where they started, sadly. The fact is that for years I heard the Republicans talking about what they call the unitary theory in the presidency. And they read the constitution to say it says all executive powers vested in the president. And for years they were trumpeting the importance of a very powerful presidency. It is sheer hypocrisy, gross inconsistency for them to object.

Secondly, if the president were to do something that was violative of the authority that you could have as president, sure, somebody sue him. By the way, it wouldn`t be members of Congress that would sue him. They don`t understand the American judicial system. You can`t have members of Congress suing on a general constitutional theory. There has been American history from the beginning. There has to be a case or controversy, and individual who feels aggrieved by that order could bring a lawsuit. But you know, I mentioned the tax. I did want to mention again. Well heard these same arguments about how the minimum wage would be destructive of jobs in the mid-`90s when President Clinton forced the Republicans to accept it.

And you know what happened after it passed? We had a shortage of workers, probably because the minimum wage attracted some people in there. But there is simply no evidence for anything they say. And of course that doesn`t stop them from saying it. And I would throw in one other thing. The biggest problem that has kept the economy from going further -- well, there were two. First of all, it`s been the depression of wages for people at the lower end, because they have not been able to consume. Secondly, if you look at what has happened since the crash of 2008 under the Bush administration, as a result of the deregulatory policies, we have had a normal recovery of jobs in the public sector.

SHARPTON: Yes.

FRANK: The problem has been that the right wing has cut public sector jobs, and that`s been where we have a have the short fall.

SHARPTON: That`s the problem. I`m going have to hold it there. Chairman Barney Frank, always nice to have you on the show. Thank you for your time tonight.

FRANK: Thank you, Al.

SHARPTON: Ahead, the NFL superstar who is making big place off the field too. Larry Fitzgerald is here live in the studio, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SHARPTON: Too often we focus on professional athletes when they`re involved in some kind of scandal. But not often enough do we feature athletes when they`re doing good. Like Arizona cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The eight time Pro Bowler ranks fifth in receiving yards per game all-time, and he caught two touchdowns in a Super Bowl. But tonight we focus on another side of Larry Fitzgerald. He has teamed up with other athletes to fight injustice, hunger and poverty in Africa, working in Ethiopia, raising money for communities devastated by drought. Has also done community work in Uganda most recently with President Bill Clinton. Life is just commitment to charity and giving back, earned him NFL humanitarian award for our next installment of advancing the dream.

We welcome Larry Fitzgerald at POLITICS NATION. Great to have you with us.

FITZGERALD: Well, my mother grew up in a time where she really felt and believed that it was important to be involved. When I was five and six years old, my mother would be part of a group called Circle of Love. And it was people just diagnosed with HIV and aides. She would force my brother and I to go. At that time, we must be outside playing ball.

SHARPTON: Right.

FITZGERALD: But we understood the importance of giving not only money to resource but your time. That`s one thing that`s so valuable. It doesn`t matter who you are, you only have 24 hours to do it.

SHARPTON: You created the Larry Fitzgerald first down fund. Tell us what`s that is about.

FITZGERALD: It goes back to breast cancer research. My mother passed away in 2003 because of complications of breast cancer. And also, I love the children, I love our communities, and I believe that the children need activity that can be positive and they can go out and do right things and be positively influenced by role molds like myself and other people.

SHARPTON: Why is giving back important?

FITZGERALD: Well, because I think we have a fiduciary responsibility as an athlete. People look up to you, they buy your jerseys. They emulate everything you do. You have the responsibility to show them the right ways, doing the right things, and being proactive in your communities.

SHARPTON: So you accept that an athlete, an entertainer are role molds just because?

FITZGERALD: Absolutely. As a parent, I wouldn`t allow my son to wear somebody`s jersey or uniform if I didn`t believe that that person was good. And I believe as a parent, as an athlete, I have to do the right things.

SHARPTON: Now, you made a promise to your mom. You mentioned she passed. What was the promise?

FITZGERALD: I promised I was going to graduate from college. And for the last five years I`ve been with the University of Phoenix, working diligently to finish and complete my degree in communications. So, it`s been difficult, because I keep a crazy schedule --

SHARPTON: Right.

FITZGERALD: But that`s about the great thing about taking classes online. All I need is my computer and my Wi-Fi service. I think I took classes in seven different countries last year.

SHARPTON: Now, you know the University of Phoenix, which I know their program sponsors in some of the things we do here, including the show -- Advancing the Dream, just in full disclosure. So you`re working through University of Phoenix to get your degree in communications?

FITZGERALD: Yes, sir, I`m working right now.

SHARPTON: I got to ask you this. You signed a $120 million contract. Why go back to school?

FITZGERALD: My grandfather always told me education is the one thing that can never be taken from you. My career could be shortened by any injury in any day. And I understand that. It`s funny, my late grandfather when he introduced me to his friends would say, this is my grandson who has not graduated from college. So, all my grandparents, my uncles, all my cousins that are college age have all graduated, I`m the only one who doesn`t have a degree. So, it`s kind of embarrassing.

SHARPTON: Now, people get education at different time and for different reasons. This time for you is about you, though?

FITZGERALD: It`s all about me. It`s about making the commitment to improving. When I`m sitting down, talking to my son and stressing the importance of education, all I have to do is look at the mantle place and show him my degree. And that`s going to say all I need to say and it`s going to let him know I mean business when I`m talking about education.

SHARPTON: What are you going to do with your degree?

FITZGERALD: Well, I love the journalism field. My dad has been doing it for the last 35 years in the twin cities area where I was born and raised. And I`m fascinated by it. I`m intrigued by it and I think it`s something I could thrive doing.

SHARPTON: Now, Richard Sherman, there has been a lot of press about him. I saw a footage where you knocked him down, and he got up and patted you on the helmet. I`ve been reading all these last couple of weeks about he is a thug. How do you respond to that as someone who has played against him and know him?

FITZGERALD: I know Richard very well. And he is the farthest thing you can`t think from a thug. And I know him intimately. And I got to be around his family, his mother, his brother and know his fiber. If you get to know him, he is a truly intriguing, intelligent young man. And anybody that competed at the highest level, he made the biggest play on the biggest stage of his life, and he was very emotional at the time. But he apologized, and he is moving forward from that, and I wish him the best.

SHARPTON: Now, you played Seattle twice, Denver in preseason. Who are you picking Sunday?

FITZGERALD: I`m going with Seattle. I just think that the way they`ve been playing defensively, the way they`re going to run the football offensively, I think they have a --

SHARPTON: So you are with the Seahawks for Sunday?

FITZGERALD: I`m not with them, but I think they`re going to win, yes.

SHARPTON: All right. Fair enough. Well, I`m very impressed that you know, you would say millions of dollars notwithstanding, you`re going to get your degree.

FITZGERALD: Yes.

SHARPTON: And I think that`s good. You say something I think a lot of young people need to hear. And I hope people won`t be shocked when I come tomorrow night with my Larry Fitzgerald earring in. You and me talk about that. Larry Fitzgerald, thank you for being with us. And you`re a joy to the game. You enjoy the game also Sunday.

FITZGERALD: Thank you.

SHARPTON: We`ll be right back.

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SHARPTON: Coming up, today an historic punch thrown in the fight for justice. Real action in what would be the biggest overall of sentencing guidelines in decades, straight ahead.

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SHARPTON: Fixing the crisis in our criminal justice system has been a priority for the Obama administration. Last month, President Obama commuted the prison sentences for eight people serving decades under old crack cocaine laws. And in August, Attorney General Eric Holder announced new guidelines designed to reduce sentences for nonviolent drug offenders.

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ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: In recent years, black male offenders have received sentences nearly 20 percent longer than those imposed on white males convicted of similar crimes. This isn`t just unacceptable, it is shameful.

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It is -- it is unworthy of our great country. It is unworthy of our great legal tradition.

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SHARPTON: Today the Senate Judiciary Committee approved what would be the biggest overhaul in federal drug sentencing in decades. It would cut mandatory minimum sentences in half for some drug offenders, increase eligibility for reduced crack cocaine penalties, and expand discretion for judges to rule on drug cases. This bill was approved with bipartisan support, and now moves on to the full Senate for a vote. We need this, and we`ll be watching closely.

Thanks for watching. I`m Al Sharpton. "HARDBALL" starts right now.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. END

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